Pressure-indicating means



Jan. 2, 1951 J. CHYBA 2,536,031

PRESSURE-INDICATING MEANS Filed March 3, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z9 37 f time To :Essnvonr.

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PRESSURE-INDICATING MEANS Filed March 3, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2a z m l) 3 INVENTOR. M05529 4 00 524 Patented Jan. 2, 1951 UNITED s'r'rss PATENT OFFICE rasssUas-mnIcA'rmc MEANS Joseph A. Chyba, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Hydro-Form Corporation, Baltimore, Md., a corporation of Maryland Application March 3, 1948, Serial No. 12,872

1 9 illaims.

This invention relates to a pressure-indicating means for a shape-forming device, and has for one of its obfects the production of a simple and efiicient means for facilitating the control of pressure in the shape-forming device relative to the distance of travel of the die counter to said pressure.

A further object of this invention is the production of a pressure-control means in association with a shape-forming device for iacl1itating the regulation of the pressure in the shapeforming device in proportion to the distance of travel of the shape-forming die and at the same time indicating to the operator the distance of travel of the die and the pressure which is being maintained counter to the movement of the die.

Other objects and advanta 'es of the present invention will appear through the following spec iflcation and claims.

In the drawin s:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the pressure-indicating means associated parts;

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of the travel dial which indicates the distance of travel of the shape-forming die;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view, partly in elevation, of the operating mechanism and dial shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 4-5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the rack-carrying casing, illustrating the tension means for the gear-carrying shaft.

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that IE designates the dome of the shape-forming device which is provided with a pressure cavity or compartment or chamber H. The compartment H i closed by a flexible diaphragm [2. Any type of diahragm may be employed without departing from the spirit of the intern tion. A die-carrying member I3 is suitably mounted on a platform 54 and t e die it is mov able into contact with the worksheet it which work sheet is in turn initially held against the diaphragm [2 by the die I 5. The die It is actuated by means of the mechanism I? of the conventional type to force the die it against the flexible diaphragm l2, and counter to the pressure in the compartment or chamber H.

A depending link 68 which is connected to the die-actuating mechanism ll of the die it, extend below the cylinder it. A flexible cable 28 or other die-connecting means is secured to the link 3 and this cable 2!! preferably passes over suitable guiding pulleys 2|.

Arack bar 22 is iii) alt)

2 connected to the opposite end of the cable or connecting means 29, as shown in Figure 1. A tension spring 22 is connected to the opposite end of the rack bar 22 and is suitably anchored to prevent lost motion and hold the cable 20 and rack bar 22 under a tension at all times.

A suitable supporting plate 23 is conveniently mounted to support the dial 24 and the pressure gage 25 in a position to be easily viewed by an operator. The pressure gage 2'5 is of the conventional type except that the pressure-indicating disc or dial 26 is keyed to the conventional pointer supporting shaft, as at 21, and rotates said shaft to rotate the pressure disc or dial 26 relative to the index 28 which is interposed between the dial 24 and the disc 26 to indicate the amount of pressure in the chamber H at all times. The pressure gage 25 is connected to the supply line 29 by means of a suitable pipe 36. The cavity or compartment H of the dome I0 is connected to the supply line 29 by means of a flexible connection 3! of any suitable type to permit of proper movement of the dome It. The supply line 29 is connected to the supply pump 32 by a suitable connecting pipe 33 and an automaticcheck valve 34 and a manually controlled valve 35 are interposed be tween the pump 32 and line 29. A pipe 36 forms a connection between a suitable reservoir and the supply pump .32. A pressure return pipe 31 carries a suitable needle valve 38 and leads from the pipe 29 at a point beyond the pipe so to the reservoir to return the pressure fluid to the reservoir when desired and when the apparatus is not in use.

It should be noted that I do not make any claim to the type of valve or pump used, since conventional types are employed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

As shownin Figure 3, the supporting plate 23 supports a rectangular casing 39 which is suspended therefrom by suitable screws 40. The casing 39 is provided with a longitudinal channel t1 and an operating shaft 42 extends vertically through the channel 4! and is iournald intermediate its ends in the supporting platc23 and at its lower end in the casing 89. A gear 13 is fixed to the shaft 52 and fits in the channel A! in a position to mesh with the teeth of the rack bar 22. A suitable gib or other securing means 44 overhangs the rack bar 22 to hold the bar in meshing relation with the gear 43. The shaft 52 is provided with a dia1-supporting head 45 at. its upper end'to which the dial 24 is secured or anchored by means of suitable screws 46 so as to rotate with the shaft 42.

The head 45 is provided with an upstanding neck 41 upon which neck an indicating hand 48 is rotatably mounted. A reduced threaded stem 49 is carried by the upper end of the neck 41. A flat compression spring 49 engages the hand 48 and fits around the neck 41. A nut 50 is threaded upon the neck 41 and contacts the spring 48 to clamp the spring 49 into frictional engagement with the hand 48 to lock the same against the spacer washer i and hold the hand 48 in a set position relative to the dial 24. A knob 52 is carried by the hand 48 to facilitate the rotation of the hand 48 to the desired setting on dial 24. A bead 53 near the periphery of the dial 24 preferably supports the outer end of the hand 48. A pulley 54 is keyed to the lower end of the shaft 42 below the casing 39. A tension coil spring 55 is secured at one end to the pulley 54 and partly extends therearound, the opposite end of the spring 55 being anchored at 55 to return the shaft 42 to its normal position when pulling power is released from the rack bar 22.

It should be noted that the disc or dial 26 is graduated in the conventional manner, as is common with pressure dials and as indicated on v the drawings. The dial 24 is graduated, as at 24 in inches and fractions thereof, with a slight overplay to indicate the distance of travel. of the die [5 against the pressure on the diaphragm l2. The rack 22 and gear 43 function in relation to the travel of the piston and die, these parts being out of sight. Since the distance of travel of the die and the pressure in the chamber l i must be known at all times for proper operation of the device, the operator will be able to visualize the distance of travel of the die and the amount of pressure in the chamber 1! by observing the positions of the dials 24 and 25 relative to the index 28. The desired distance of travel of the die or piston may be initially set by moving the hand 48 to the desired reading on the dial 24. When the set hand 48 which is locked on the dial 24 registers with the index 28' against the counteracting pressure shown on the pressure gage 25, the operator knows that the proper shape has been formed in the shape-forming device. The pressure may be regulated by the operator by actuating the valve 35 to increase or decrease the pressure as registered on the disc 25 relative to index 28. Vi hen the selectedpressure on the gage disc 26 registers with the index 28 at the same time the selected distance on the dial 24 as indicated by the hand 48 registers with said index 28, the operator knows that the machine has properly functioned to produce the desired shape of work intended to be produced. It is obvious that as the die and piston travel upwardly against the diaphragm I2, the liquid or air in the compartment or chamber I! is compressed and will vary at different elevations, consequently the manually-operated relief valve 35 is operated to relieve or allow the head pressure to build up to a selected, degree as indicated by the disc 25 relative to the index 28.

It should be noted that the movement of the dial 24 is properly synchronized with the movement of the die through the medium of the gear 43 and rack 22, to indicate distance of travel by the die in inches and fractions thereof.

-, Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is: 1. In combination with a shape-forming device of the class described having a pressure chamber, a flexible diaphragm movable into said pressure chamber, a movable shape-forming die adapted to shape a blank sheet against said flexible diaphragm; a movable indicator, means connecting the indicator to the movable die for registering the distance of movement of said die against said diaphragm, and a pressure gage connected to said pressure chamber for indicating the amount of pressure in said chamber.

2. In combination with a shape-forming device of the class described having a pressure chamber, a flexible diaphragm movable into said pressure chamber, a movable shape-forming die adapted to shape a blank sheet against said flexible diaphragm; a movable indicator, means connecting the indicator to the movable die for registering the distance of movement of said die against said diaphragm, a fixed index adjacent said indicator to facilitate the reading of said indicator, and a. pressure gag also registering with said index and connected to said pressure chamber for indicating the amount of pressure in said chamber.

3. In combination with a shape-forming device of the class described having a pressure chamber, a flexible diaphragm movable into said pressure chamber, a movable shape-forming die adapted to shape a blank sheet against said flexible diaphragm; a movable indicator, means con--' necting the indicator to the movable die for registering the distance of movement of said die against said diaphragm, a fixed index adjacent said indicator to facilitate the reading of said indicator, a pressure gage also registering with said index and connected to said pressure chamber for indicating the amount of pressure in said chamber, a source of pressure supply leading to said chamber and said gage, and valve means for regulating and varying pressure in said chamber as said die moves against said diaphragm and into said chamber.

4. In combination with a shape-forming device of the class described having a pressure chamber, a flexible diaphragm movable into said pressure chamber, a movable shape-forming die adapted to shape a blank sheet against said flexible diaphragm; a movable indicator, means connecting the indicator to the movable die for registering the distance of movement of said die against said diaphragm, said indicator comprising a graduated movable indicator element, and a rack and pinion connected to and interposed between the indicator element and said last mentioned means for indicating the movement of said die, the movement of the indicator element being synchronized with a movement of said die.

5. In combination with a shape-forming de-' vice of the class described having a pressure chamber, a flexible diaphragm movable into said pressure chamber, a movable shape-forming die adapted to shape a blank sheet against said flexible diaphragm; a rotatable indicator, means connecting the indicator to the movable die for registering the distance of movement of said die against said diaphragm, said indicator comprls ing a graduated rotatable indicator plate, and rack and pinion connected to and interposed between the indicator plate and said last mentioned means for indicating the movement of said die, the movement of said indicator plate being synchronized with the movement of said die.

6. In combination with a shape-forming device of the class described having a pressure chamber, a flexible diaphragm movable into .said

pressure chamber, a movable shape-forming die adapted to shape a blank sheet against said fiexible diaphragm; a rotatable indicator, meaii's for indicating the movement of said die, the

movement of said indicator plate being synchronized with the movement of said die, and said Plate e g graduated in inches and fractioiis 3 thereof to designate the distance of travel of the rack and die.

'I. In combination with a shape-forming dx j vice of the class described having a pres chamber. a flexible diaphragm movable into said pressure chamber, a movable shape-forming die adapted to shape a blank sheet against said flexible diaphragm; a rotatable indicator, means connecting the indicator to, the movable die for registering the distance of movement of said die against said diaphragm, said indicator comprising i a graduated rotatable indicator plate, a rack ahfd pinion connected to and interposed between the indicator plateand said last mentioned means for indicating the movement of said die, the movement of said indicator plate being synchronized with the movement of said die, said plate being graduated in inches and fractions thereof to designate the distance of travel of the rack and die, a movable indicator hand mounted upon said plate, means for locking said hand in a selected position to indicate desired selected distance of movement of said die, and a fixed index adjacent said indicator plate. a

B. In combination with a shape-forming device of the class described having a pressure chamber, a flexible diaphragm movable into said pressure chamber, a movable shape-forming die adapted to shape a blank sheet against said flexible diaphragm; a movable indicator, means connecting the indicator to the movable die for registering the distance of movement of said die against said diaphragm, a fixed index adjacent said indicator to facilitate the reading of said indicator, and a pressure gage having a rotating graduated plate also registering with said index for indicating the amount of pressure in said chamber.

9. In combination with a shape-forming device of the class described having a pressure chamber, a flexible diaphragm movable into said pressure chamber, a movable shape-forming die adapted to shape a blank sheet against said flexible diaphragm; a movable indicator, means connecting the indicator to the movable die .for registering the distance of movement of said die against said diaphragm, a fixed index adjacent said indicator to facilitate the reading of said indicator, a pressure gage having a rotating graduated plate also registering with said index for indicating the amount of pressure in said chamber, a source of pressure supply for said chamber, and a control valve for varying the pressure in said chamber in proportion to the distance of movement of said die relative to said diaphragm.

JOSEPH A. CHYBA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date j 1,124,846 Brennan, Jr Jan. 12, 1915 2,142,445 Helwig Jan. 3, 1939 2,367,642 Helwig Jan. 16, 194 5 MacDonald Feb. 11, 1947 

